“No, just curious,” he pointed out. Stepping up behind her, Cliff placed his hands on either side of her body on the desk. Rubbing his nose along her neck, he asked, “Do you have anything against tattoos?”
Her voice was breathy as she replied, “No.”
Pressing his lips against the skin where her neck met her shoulders, he licked and nipped along the exposed skin just above her shirt, moving to the other side. Anger burst inside him as he took in the red and purple wound braising her shoulder, the dark lines of her sutures still visible. This was one of the first days she’d been able to go without a dressing on it.
“You have beautiful skin,” Cliff told her, though his eyes remained on the nasty scar that she will eventually have. Though, to him, the injury would only make her more beautiful.
“Thanks. I just never know what to get, it was not that I never wanted one.”
“You’d probably want to start with something small first, but I’d love to put feathers along your shoulder blades.”
“Feathers? Why?” she asked curiously.
“To show that you have risen above it all.” He peppered one last kiss on her shoulder then stood straighter, twisting her in his arms.
“That sounds nice.” She smiled up at him, her arms wrapping around his waist.
Cliff bent forward and kissed her softly. “Can I take you to lunch today?”
“I thought you were going with Wade,” she responded, her lips moving against his.
“I’m sure that I can make it up to him. I’d rather have your company.”
Pulling back, Alexis’ smile widened as if he’d fixed all that was wrong in the world. Damn, he loved it.
“I’d love to join you.”
“Good. I’ll just let Wade know.”
Cliff hurried to the back of the shop and opened the door. Whatever Wade had been discussing on the phone ended abruptly. Cliff couldn’t pinpoint it, but something about Wade staring at the ground had his hackles rising.
“Hey, I’m going to take Alexis to lunch, can we postpone?”
“Sure thing.”
Cliff took a heavy breath and the scent of marijuana lingered in the air. Now, the secretive conversation made sense. “Wade, I have a zero-tolerance policy with drugs. If I catch you using or selling, I’ll have to let you go.”
“Sorry, boss. Just letting off some steam. Got into it with my girl this morning.”
Something about his explanation seemed fishy, but what did Cliff know about girl problems? He and Alexis had moved from barely acquaintances to whatever they were doing. Were they in a relationship? Was she just biding her time with him until she could return to her home?
The back door closed behind Cliff as he turned back around. Now that the questions were in his mind, he couldn’t seem to shake them free.
“Cliff, are you ready?” Alexis asked, standing at the end of the hallway, her beautiful smile beckoning him forward.
Yeah, he was ready; he’d take whatever he could with her.
With his hand wrapped around hers, they walked down Main Street. Alexis being here with him was right, he just hated the circumstances that brought her back to Carson.
As they approached the diner, Austin and Nikki exited with their toddler Grace in toe. They swung her in the air as she took a leap off the sidewalk. Cliff never imagined having children, he always felt that he had seen too much hatred in the world. How could he possibly give someone all of the love and care that they deserved? It was the same reason why he wasn’t sure where this thing with Alexis may go.
“Hey, guys,” Austin waved as they stepped closer on the sidewalk. Cliff and Alexis replied in the same manner.
“I’m sorry to hear about the trouble you’re in, Alexis. Please let us knew what we can do to help. With all you’ve done for our family we’ve claimed you as our own,” Nikki said, her hand gently reaching out to clasp Alexis’. Cliff looked over and swore that he saw tears in Alexis’ eyes. He would hate for Nikki to upset her, but the Connelly’s had always been the kind to bend over backward to help someone.
But Alexis surprised him as she released his hand and wrapped Nikki in a hug. The women stood together in their embrace for a few minutes leaving Cliff and Austin staring at each other awkwardly. It was not that Cliff didn’t like Austin; he just didn’t know him very well.
“So, uh. . .do you need any help renovating your cabin?” the man asked as he lifted his daughter into his arms.